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If you output to WebHelp, you could always make your small pics into hot thumbnails that can optionally call the full-size view, when clicked.
Best of both worlds
I do that for some hefty diagrams in my concept-description material, but had not previously thought to do the same in my two-column (ok, it's a two-column table) instructional material. Considering it now, though. :-)
-----Original Message-----
From: Becky -dot- Scott -at- dart -dot- biz
Sent: February-15-13 9:20 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Screen Captures
I agree that large screen captures which expand the doc can be annoying.
But no screen capture at all sometimes leaves people feeling lost.
I have used a happy medium that my clients seem to like ... small screen shots with relevant fields circled. I divide the page into two columns and put text in one column and accompanying screen shots in the other. That way people can read uninterrupted text if they want, or they can scan the screen shots to see what to look for. This makes the screen shots pretty small but since people are generally looking at the screen when they read the doc, they don't really need a large version.
One of my clients, which serves state government accounts, adopted this as their standard layout style.
I have attached an example, if the listserv can display it.
Becky Scott
Technical Writer
(517) 244-2191 (office)
(517) 290-3158 (cell)
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